Geothermal energy potential in region
9/10/2008 2:30:00 PM
JURIEN Bay is one of three areas in the State to be tested for geothermal energy potential. New World Energy company director John Libby said they planned to drill nine sites to potentially develop “hot rocks” technology in regional Western Australia.
Hot rocks technology harnesses steam from heat producing granite deposits below the ground and converts it into a low-emissions source of renewable energy.
The company has received nine State Government permits to drill near Binningup in the South West and Dongara, Jurien Bay and Eneabba in the Midwest.
Mr Libby said the permits are yet to be ratified and studies must be carried out before any exploration is undertaken.
“After a year we’re probably looking at drilling a couple of wells to test temperature and get some geological samples of the rocks,” he said.
“If that all goes ahead and that’s all positive then we’ll under take additional drilling and it’s going to be a number of years yet before we see any geothermal energy actually produced from the ground and used.”
Energising the Wheatbelt group, which involves the Shires of Wongan Hills, Dalwallinu and Moora, have identified a potential geothermal site just north of the Moora townsite which will be further investigated.
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